Machine for making tubes from hollow ingots



(No Model.)

S. M. TASKER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES PROM HOLLOW INGOTS.- No. 331,571. Patented Dec. 1,1885

' Fig].

Nrrn Srarns STEPHEN P. M. TASKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHiN'E FOR MAKiNG TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS.

SPECIFECATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,571, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed July 20, 1885. Serial No. 172,043.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPH N P. M. Tnsxnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Improvements in Machines for Making Tubes from Hollow Metal Ingots, of which the following is a specification. 1

The object of my invention is the manufacture of a tube from a hollow cylindriform metal ingot by rolling, either hot or cold, by means of the machine hereinafter described, the said ingot down and out upon a mandrel at least of the required length of the tube to be formed, thereby compacting and consolidatingthesubstance of the metal of the ingot, thinning or reducing the latter in thickness and elongating it until the required proportions are attained. The ingots which I employ are tubular or of a hollow cylindriform structure, of any metal, and either open at both ends, closed at one end, or closed at one end and provided through such closed end with an aperture for the tractionrod of a mandrel.

As my machine is of especial applicability to the making of steel tubes, I contemplate also the employment of a steel cast ingot of a character invented by me, two applications for patents for which were filed in the United States Patent Oftice upon the 14th day of May, 1885, and respectively numbered 165,695 and 165,696. V

Heretofore in the art of metal-rolling, two or more pairs or sets of equal-sized concavefaced rolls, the two rolls constituting the respective sets or pairs of which, being placed the one over the other, have crossed each otherthat is to say, have been adjusted in such manner that vertical planes, respectively projected from their respective longitudinal axes, have intersected each other at otherthan a right angle-have been, in successive disposition in the same machine, employed for rounding, straightening, and sizing tubes and rods, the said tubes or rods havingbeen passed through the passes of the successive sets in a direction which may, for the purposes of explanation, be described as right angular to a common imaginary longitudinal axis of each pair of rolls, or in a direction much more nearly right angular to than parallel with the longitudinal axis of each individual roll of (No model.)

each pair. In such a machine all of the rolls upon a given side of the line of feed of the rod have, moreover, been arranged in a common frame with their axes parallel, and all of the rolls upon the other side of said line of feed have likewise been arranged in another common frame with their axes parallel, but angularly disposed with respect to or crossing, so to speak, the axes of the other series, the passes of all the sets having been of the same diameter, and a common simultaneous adjustment of all of the passes having been the only adjustment thereof possible. Heretofore, again, a pair or set of equal-sized concavefaced rolls, placed one over the other,so as to cross, have been employed for rounding, straightening, and smoothing tubes and rods, the said tubes or rods having been introduced and passed through a pass extending longitudinally between or through, so to speak,

the rolls, and in a direction cnncident with their common axis as opposed to having been passed through them in a direction right angular to said common axis of the set. Heretofore, also, in the art of metal-rolling two or three equal-sized rolls having concave working-faces have been arranged in a suitable housing obliquely side by side or one over the other, or spirally, as it were, around a common central imaginary longitudinal axis of the set, so that the axes of the respective rolls forming such set have been inclined to each other in different planes, and each and all at an angle to the said common longitudinal axis, which is that of the article to be rolled, the said article having been introduced through a pass ex tending longitudinally between or through, so to speak, the rolls, (which pass, as is well known, is an extended straight bearing obtained between the roll-faces in alinebisecting the angle of inclination of the rolls,) and the said machines as such having been employed for rolling, finishing, reducing, straightening,-

, the rolls being each time set down a sutticient described as another given type, and may de-v fine the distinguishing characteristic of the two types to be the direction in which the article to be rolled is passed through the set of rollsthat is to say, whether it be passed through them in a direction right angular to what I may term their common axis, as in the case of the rolls first described, or parallel or coincident with said commonaxis. asin the case of either of the sets of rolls last above described.

I have discovered that a superior merchantaole tube of metal, but especially that a steel tube, can be economically and successfully manufactured either from a tubular metal ingot, or especially from a hollow steel cast in got, by employing, in conjunction with a set of concave-faced rolls, the rolls of which set cross each other, a mandrel adapted to be rotated with the ingot upon it, and at least of the required length of the tube to be formed from said ingot, which mandrel is passed through the pass of the set in a direction right angular to its common axis, and upon which mandrel the substance ofthe metal of the ingot is by the rolls compacted and consolidated,and after a sufficient number of repeated passes,

distance, the ingot itself thinned or reduced in thickness and elongated until the required proportions are attained.

Apparatus embodying a good form of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, and described inthis specification, the particular.sulject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of an apparatus conveniently embodying a good form of my improvements, an ingot having a closed advance end being shown'in position upon the mandrel and undergoing reduction in its passage through the rolls in the direction of the arrow upon it. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the apparatus represented in Fig. 1, section being supposed in the plane of the dotted line a: a; of Fig. 1, and sight being taken in the direction of the arrows upon said line, the reduction of the ingot being also illustrated, and the latter being closed at one end and provided through its closed end with an aperture through which the tractionrod of the mandrel is represented as having been passed. In Fig. 1 it is to be assumed that the mandrel is, if desired, forced from behind through the rolls; in Fig. 2 it is to be assumed that the mandrel is, if desired, being both forced and drawn, or drawn only. Fig. 3 isan end elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, sight being taken from the right-hand end of said Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the rolls and of one of the adjustable boxings in which one of its axles is journaled, the said boxing and the radial adjustingarm thereon, and a portion of one of the cylindriform segments of the-housing and of the projecting flange thereon being represented in a sectional View projected on a plane which passes through both the axis of the roll and that of the radial adjust-ing-arm. The view is in the nature of an explanatory diagram, and is neither drawn to scale nor isometrically correct. Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating how the mandrel may be swiveled to a mandrel-head or cross-bar, S, of a mandrel frame or carriage.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents any suitable bed or foundation for supporting the housings within which the rolls are journaled.

M is the advance portion of a cylindrical mandrel, which is at least of the length of the tube to be produced, and which is adapted to be rotated upon its longitudinal axis by any convenient meansas, for instance, by swiveling its rear extremityin the mandrel frame or carriage S.

In the drawings no representation is made of any means for oocasioning the advance or retraction of the mandrel through the passes ot' the rolls, for the reason that I assume such representation to be unnecessary, because the various appliances in common use for actuating the mandrels of rolling-mills are well known to iron-masters, and for the further reason that any such means are of optional application, as the rolls are provided with means for driving them, and consequently for operating the mandrel when the ingot upon it is in bite with the rolls. I assume it, however to be understood that a suitable mechanism, which may be of any preferred character, is, when it is desired so to do, to be applied to the mandrel to cooperate with the means for driving the rolls in causing the advance or retraction of the mandrel at any predetermined speed through the passes of the rolls.

B is an ingot upon the mandrel.

O are two longitudinallyextending parallel housings vertically erected from the bed or foundation, and either cast solid therewith or bolted or otherwise secured thereto.

The housings, in the form of apparatus shown in the drawings,support a pair of rolls, which are marked D, and which are of equal sizes and coneave-faced. The said rolls are respectively adjusted one above the other, and their axes. whatever for the time being be the fixed adjustment of the rolls, must always cross at an angle other than a right angle, and which is such as to cause the concave working-surfaces of the said two rolls to always present in any desired angular relationship not right angular a pass which, viewed from the end of the machine, is, as shown in Fig. 3, practically circular, whatever its diameter may be, for of course the rolls separate and their pass increases diametrically as the angle of the axes increases.

Thejournaling or housing of the rolls and the means for adjusting the said rolls is-con- ICC veniently as follows: Each housing in the region of its support of the rolls has preferably the form of a segment of a vertical cylinder, the said cylindrical segments being marked 0 in the drawings; or, at least, the said housings are vertically cylindrically conoaved 011 their adjacent'faces, the curvature being the same in each, while the inner faces of said cylindrical segments of the housings are separated from each other a distance equal to the diameter of a circle an arc of which corresponds with the arc of their inner curved cylindrical facesthatis to say, a circle whose circumference is equal to that of the base of a supposed cylinder introduced vertically, so as to fill the space between the cylindrical segments of the housing. The curved inner walls of both the segmental portions there fore have a common central vertical axis which is midway between them. The axles d of the rolls are preferably entered within adjustable boxings or bearings F, which, as shown in Fig. 5, are respectively fitted with respect to and adapted to have both a rotary and a longitudinal movement within reverse ly'disposed segmental ways H formed in opposite pairs in the respective cylindrical seg ments of the housings, and two of which are as to each housing projected in What may be termed diagonally-quartered relationship, upon a common radius from a common center which is concentric with what I have characterized the common longitudinal axis of the rolls of the set under consideration, and is about midway of the vertical depth of the said cylindrical segments, as will be more clearly understood by areference to the drawings. By virtue of these pairs of reverselydisposed segmental ways within which the axles of the rolls are, as shown, entered, the movement of the pair of rolls for increasing or diminishing the diameter of the pass becomes both certain and easy.

To render easy the adjustment of the rolls, Ihave devised the following convenient means of adjustment: A radially-proj ecting threaded adj usting-arm, f, is attached to each axleboxing, and passes through a doubly-curved slot, t, formed in a doubly-curved flange, I, projecting from the exterior face of each cylindrical segment, as a reference to the drawings will also make clear. j are jam-nuts, applied to the radial adj ustingarms to secure thelocking of the arm to which they are respectively applied at given positions, with respect to its range of play within the slot of its flange. A suitable arrangement or disposition of the segmental ways for the axle'boxings with respect to the cylindriform segments of the housings, is represented in the drawings, and will be easily understood bya reference thereto. The corresponding segmental ways in the opposite cylindrical segments are of course diagonally opposite.

The segmental ways, axle-boxings adjustable therein, radial nut-provided arms connected with said boxings, and projecting slotted flanges for the maintaining of the arms when locked, and consequently of the axles and rolls in predetermined positions, together constitute simply a composite roll-adj usting contrivance, the office of which is to permit of and render easy the adjustment of the pair of rolls at different relative angles, and consequently, by reason of the play of their boxings in the reversely disposed segmental ways, nearer together or farther apart, so as to increase or lessen the diametric measurement of the pass between them, and adapt them for employment with mandrels andingots of varying diameters. ,Any other adjusting device operating to a similar result may, however, be substituted in the stead of the foregoing. It is proper also to remark that the boxings may be dispensed with, and the axles otherwise housed or entered simply in the segmental ways, in which event means for fixed adjustment of the rolls is to be applied to the axles, and not to the boxings.

As a gearing to occasion the positive driving in opposite directions of the two rolls of each set, I equip the said rolls with toothed wheels K, the teeth of which are of such form, and spaced at such distances apart, that, notwith-' standing varying relative inclinations and consequent distances apart of the rolls, the said toothed wheels are in constant engagement, so that when rotation isimparted to one of them rotatiouin acontrary direction is also imparted to the other; and I also provide a driving spur-wheel, L, upon a shaft, Z, suitably journa-led preferably beneath the foundation of the machine, the teeth of which engage with the teeth of the lower toothed wheel K, and occasion the rotation of the rolls to which they are applied in either direction at will.

The housings constitute a most convenient framing but the segmental Ways may be formed independently of or supported separately from the said housings.

Having now described what I believe to be a convenient embodiment of my invention, and at the same time described the operation of the machine, it is proper for me to add that I believe myself the first to use a mandrel capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis and of the length of the tube which is to be produced, in conjuction with a set of positivelydriven angularly-disposed or crossing concavefaced rolls, by which arrangement it is possible to reduce the external diameter of an ingot placed upon the mandrel, and, by setting down said rolls after each pass, to effect a continued reduction until said ingot becomes a tube of the desired thickness of substance and of no greater length than the mandrel.

It is of course obvious that while the housing for containing and the means for retaining the adjusted rolls which I have represented and described are well adapted for the. purpose, yet that they are not essential to my invention. The special adjusting devices described, or others operating to substantially the same result, however, permit of the ad- ICO justment of the rolls to accommodate any size of ingot within their range of separation.

The method of driving the rolls which I have represented is a good one, because it permits of their reversal for the backing out of the mandrel, and also the driving of different sets at different rates of speed.

As already stated, the mandrel, which may beof any desired kind, may, if desired, be also driven, and be driven at a speed greater or less than that of the rolls and, when driven, is preferably driven by a power independent of the power employed to drive the rolls.

The spiral or revolving progressive motion to which the ingot on the mandrel, and with itithe mandrel to which it for the time being adheres, is subjected prevents finning or irregularities of any kind, and therefore tends to produce a uniformly-cylindric and very marketable tube. The mandrel may be extracted from the tube after final rolling by stretching the tube, by loosening the mandrel and by extracting the latter by any suitable means.

It is proper to add that my machine, without the mandrel, is well adapted for rounding, straightening, and finishing tubes and rods, and, if desired, by the adjustment of the rolls, for reducing their diameters, it being simply necessary for any such employment of said machine that the mandrel should be removed and the product to be operated upon be manipulated in its stead through the pass between the rolls.

I do not claim or seek herein to cover, in connection with rolls of the character herein set forth, and which are provided with positive mechanism for driving them, any mechanism for positively advancing or retracting the mandrel, as, While I may see fit to employ in connection with this apparatus means for operating the mandrel at either a greater or less speed than that imparted to the rolls, and although I deem such proceeding clearlywithin my invention, yet I. have made the driving of the mandrel the subject ,of claim in another application which I have designated Case A, No. 1', and executed and filed contemporane ously with this application, as I have also done with respect to the housing when pro vided with segment-a1 ways, to the mandrel per 86 when employed with cross-rolls, and to the roll-adjusting devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim andidesire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for making tubes from hollow .metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a mandrel at least as long as the tube to be formed, and which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, and mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a mandrel adapted to be rotated with the ingot, at least as long as the tube to be formed, and which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, and mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, housings for supporting said rolls, reversely disposed se mental ways for the axles of the rolls, and mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal'ingots, the combination ofa pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other,.housings for supporting said rolls, reversely-disposed segmental ways for the axles of the rolls, means for securing the fixed adjustment of the axles of the rolls with respect to said segmental ways, and a mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, housings for supporting said rolls, reversely-disposed segmental ways formed in or connected with the framing, boxings or bearings for the axles of the rolls adapted to said segmental ways, adjusting-arms connected with both the axles of the rolls and the framing, and mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, housings for supporting said rolls, reversely-disposed segmental ways for the axles of the rolls, mechanism for driving the rolls, and a rotatable mandrel which is-passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, housings for supporting said rolls, reversely-disposed segmental ways for the axles of the rolls, means for securing the fixed adjustment of the axles of the rolls with respect to said segmental Ways, mechanism for driving the rolls, and a rotatable mandrel which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ingots, the combination ofapair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, housings for supporting said rolls, reversely-disposed segmental ways formed in or connected with the framing,

boxings or bearings for the axles of the rolls adapted to said segmenta1 Ways, adjustingarms connected with both the axles of the rolls and the framing, mechanism for driving STEPHEN P. M. TASKER. the rolls, and a rotatable mandrel which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls In presence ofin a direction right angular to their common J. BONSALL TAYLOR,

axis, substantially as set forth. J OHN J OLLEY, Jr.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 6th day of July, A. D. 1885. 

